The Washington Redskins' secondary will be without two starters against the Tennessee Titans as cornerback Carlos Rogers and strong safety LaRon Landry did not accompany the team on the trip to Nashville.
Rogers (hamstring) and Landry (Achilles' tendon) will sit out Sunday's game at LP Field because of injuries that slowed them in practice throughout the week. Safety Reed Doughty is expected to take Landry's place with the first-team defense.
It is unclear who will start at cornerback opposite DeAngelo Hall. But in a somewhat surprising move, second-year cornerback Kevin Barnes is expected to play a bigger role. After being active in four games his rookie season, the former Maryland standout has been active in three games this season.
Cornerback Byron Westbrook, a standout on special teams, has more experience than Barnes, and nickel cornerback Phillip Buchanon has started many games during his nine-year career. But defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, Redskins employees say, is interested in evaluating Barnes, who has impressed him at times during practice since the offseason.